The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-06

per's War Volumes.
Ranks are making over the bay gallant
sind experienced Confederate officer says
1will take them just five years and three
months TO take Mobile, BY that time we
may indulge the hope that something will
urn up"
The evening OF April II, the writer with
ais company crossed over to Mobile and
that night slept in "A vacant house near the
nay. A few feet in front was "A huge can
non with apyramid Of cannon balls by its
side. Near by was magazine containing
shells and other explosive ammunition,
looking much like an outdoor collar. The
grass over this and all about the cannon
was green and beautiful, and u few feet
m front were the waters OF the bay.
The Confederatcs had reiterated up tho
Mobile and Alabama rivers. and up the
former stream the 18th Corps was ut once
ordered, following for a time the Mobile
X Ohio railroad. In passing aboNt Mobile
the great strength OF its .dcfcnscs was re-
marked even by our common soldiers, and
mad the Conredcratcs had sufficient men to
have manned the works they would have
been almost imprcgnable against direct
assault
One OF the ablest engineers in the Con-
federatc army sad Mobile WAS the best
fortified place in the South.
Al Whistler, u little station on the
Mobile Il ONO railroad, few miles from
Mobile, quite lively skirmish was had
with the encmy's cavalry. THIS was the
last engagement the 18th Corps partc.-
pated in, and IL further claimed to have
been the list battle OF the war.
Rumors now began to be circulated that
bee had been defeated aud Ric hmond capt
Jred But these wcrl not confirmed.
Meantime the army moved up the coun.
try some forty or fifty miles north Of Mo-
bilc. The march was Tor the most part
lhrongha thlnly populated region with ohly
now and then Farm house.
One day the march led over heavy roads
and all day long through cola. drzllinr
ram. Towards night The comuatd halted,
md the writer, with some companlons
,ound comfortable quarters before the fire
.f q rude negro cabin, aud ate with much
.-clIsh the corn 'hoe odks' prepared al us
Acarth by COiurcd Aunty
An, youthful comTade OF that day. now
crown 10 mature middle age, and, may be-,
1heposscsser OF ample fortune, qua, per-
laps, the favored one OF "a choice circle OF
frendsi DO marble steps lead ing through
"oons with vcHet carpets richly'unho!.
stored furniture and frescocd ceiling per.
AIDED oughOut-even IN mdWlntcr-
TIth summer temperatures. seem half as
inviting a. did tina, rude threshold and
cough liltle low door through whigtyou that
lay could not enter without Duwlng your
acudt
7or does luxurious food. prepared with
special am 10 tempt and tCkla tue palate,
aud edten from dunlIest rnin, upon the
rlnest and WuItcSt table liucnl give wa
Jal' the pleasure you that daylItd from
kunty s hoe.cdht, eaten upOn the plan board
L&ble beside her simple hearth!
About week after leaving NJ ,Ule' the
s,pGn mand received Official notice at Inc fan
II Richmond and surrender Of Lee All
we're OF course relolced, Knowing Tho war
would soon end
For TWO or three days the army campod
aeaT the residence VI Mrs Godbow.
Lhe mother OF Mrs General Earl
Van Doru, II was PLAIN Two starry
frame house. painted white u II
ersi Van Dorm had been conspicuous ia
me COME lcrate service. tat during The
eecond year OF the war had personal ann
,.uity with Doctor Peters, o; 1e.nessec BY
whom nc was billed HIS wife was living
90 kle quiet lonely region. retired from thu
world. apparently with no companion save
per mother While encamped at this place
ihe news OF LncolD's assassination was
sfcceived II was terrible news to the so!
liers. and the FIRST impulse OF every man
seemod desire 10 In some way avenge the
Presidents death And had the enemy
tseea 10 our immediate front in battle array
'sbere is no question but at this period tie
Union soldiers would have fought with un
usual determination. but the Confederacy
Ssss crumbliyg 10 pieces, Ard shooting
enemies Of the Government was soon 10 be
a thing Ut the past
1be command finally went into camp I'M
,snediateiy on the bank OF Ton b, gbee river.
1T place called Macintosh Blum Here a
ALI flag. pole eighty feet high was ereoLed
and all seemed ~ have q good time The
war wac substantially over. ana ue more
faro .snPaigns being IN prosper, there !